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Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 1
Arsha Vidya Pitham Swami Dayananda Ashram Sri Gangadhareswar
Trust Purani Jhadi, Rishikesh Pin 249 201, Uttarakhanda
Ph.0135-2431769 Fax: 0135 2430769 Website: www.dayananda.org Email:
[email protected]
Board of Trustees:
Chairman: Swami Dayananda Saraswati
Managing Trustee: Swami Suddhananda
Trustees: Swami Santatmananda Swami Jnanananda Sri Rajni Kant
Sri M.G. Srinivasan Sri M. Rajalingam
Arsha Vijnana Gurukulam 72, Bharat Nagar Amaravathi Road, Nagpur
Maharashtra 410 033 Phone: 91-0712-2523768 Emai:
[email protected]
Board of Trustees
Paramount Trustee: Swami Dayananda Saraswati
President Rajashree Shrikant Jichkar,
Secretary
Madhav Babasaheb Solao,
Trustees:
Ramesh Bhaurao Girde
Avinash Narayanprasad Pande
Madhav Chintaman Kinkhede
Ramesh alias Nana Pandurang Gawande
Rajendra Wamanrao Korde
Arsha Vidya Gurukulam Institute of Vedanta and Sanskrit Sruti
Seva Trust Anaikatti P.O. Coimbatore 641 108 Tel. 0422-2657001, Fax
91-0422-2657002 Web Site : "http://www.arshavidya.in" Email:
[email protected]
Board of Trustees: Paramount Trustee: Swami Dayananda
Saraswati
Chairman: R. Santharam
Trustees: C. Soundar Raj
P.R.Ramasubrahmaneya Rajhah
Ravi Sam
N.K. Kejriwal
T.A. Kandasamy Pillai
Ravi Gupta
M. Krishnan
Secretary: V. Sivaprasad
Arsha Vidya Gurukulam Institute of Vedanta and Sanskrit P.O. Box
No.1059 Saylorsburg, PA, 18353, USA Tel: 570-992-2339 Fax:
570-992-7150
570-992-9617 Web Site : "http://www.arshavidya.org" Books Dept.
: "http://books.arshavidya.org"
Board of Directors:
President: Swami Dayananda Saraswati
Vice Presidents: Swami Viditatmananda Saraswati Swami
Tattvavidananda Saraswati
Secretary: Anand Gupta
Treasurer: Piyush and Avantika Shah
Asst. Secretary: Dr. Carol Whitfield
Directors: Drs.N.Balasubramaniam (Bala) & Arul Ajay &
Bharati Chanchani Dr.Urmila Gujarathi Sharad & Lata Pimplaskar
Dr.V.B. Prathikanti & Sakubai Dr.Sundar Ramaswamy(Dhira) &
Usha Dr.L.Mohan & Vinita Rao V.B.Somasundaram and Dr.Anasuya
Bhagubhai and Janaki Tailor Dr.Ashok Chhabra & Martha Doherty
Vijay and Pammi Kapoor
Associate Board of Directors: Dr.Soma & Nagaveni Avva
Dr.Ravindra Bathina Dr.Mahesh & Maheswari Desai Dr.Pramod &
Lata Deshmukh Dr.T.A.Gopal & Lata Dr.Kamlesh & Smita Gosai
Dr.Haren Joshi & Pratima Tolat Dr.Arun & Mangala Puranik
G.S. Raman & Gita Dr.Bhagabat & Pushpalakshmi Sahu Rakesh
Sharma
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 1
Arsha Vidya Newsletter
In fearless voice may we proclaim
The Rishi's message from all house-tops
And bring the men of different claim
To a fold of Love where oneness lasts!
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 2
mu{fkaepin;d Muakopaniad
Mantra 13
tSmE s ivan! %psay sMyK zaNticay zmaiNvtay, yena]r< pu;<
ved sTym! aevaec ta< tTvtae ivXyam!. 1,2,13. tasmai sa vidvn
upasannya samyak prantacittya amnvitya | yenkara purua veda satyam
provoca t tatvato brahmavidhym || 1|2|13||
tasmai - to that student; samyak - properly; upasannya - who has
approached; prantacittya - whose mind is resolved; amnvitya - who
has mastery over mind; sa% - that; vidvn wise person, provoca may
he teach; t that; brahmavidhym brahmavidhya, yena - by which; veda
- he knows; akara- the imperishable; purucam - truth; satyam -
limitless; tattvata% - as it is
To that student who has approached properly, who has a resolved
mind, who has mastery over mind, that wise person should teach that
brahmavidhy by which he knows the imperishable, limitless truth as
it is.
Guru is not some kind of a generic name. There is no class of
gurus. Only when a student approaches the person for knowledge, and
that person is willing to teach, he becomes ones guru. The person
wants to know and the one whom he considers as a guru does not
teach at all, yet he can be a guru, like DroGa was guru to
Ekalavya.
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 3
139 B[hadraGyakopanicad 4.4.23
Sa%, that guru who is a srotriya and a brahma-nicmha is being
approached. He has the knowledge of the scriptures. Unless he has
that knowledge, there is no way of imparting the knowledge.
Samyak upasannya tasmai provca: to that student who has
approached properly, may the teacher teach until the person
understands. A person may approach a teacher, but wants something
else. So, first the teacher has to find out what the person wants,
and also find out whether the person has the right kind of mind,
whether the heart of this person is set for this knowledge. Samyak
upasannya means one who shows his readiness to receive this
knowledge. May the teacher teach such a person.
There are some more adjectives for the iya. He is prantacitta,
one who has a resolved mind. By viveka and vairgya he has freed his
mind from other pururths. The different ends in life do not pull
his mind. Samnvitya is one who has qualities like ama-dama. Vedanta
talks about those qualities - amnitva and adambhitva as mentioned
in the Gt -that one must have to gain this knowledge. The upanicads
also mention ama , dama, uparati, titikc, raddh and samdhna. 139
The one who has these qualifications in a relative measure, is
samnvit. In other words, the iya is a jijsu. For that person the
guru taught. It is is(?) how sampradya begins. Here, guru, AEgiras
taught the iya. Similarly, the iya will go and teach when he
himself has understood. So there is a kind of vidhi, stipulation,
that may the teacher teach that person. Here, in the verb provca,
vac dhtu is a transitive verb. So, there is a subject matter
involved. The subject matter is brahma-vidy. Brahmavidym provca, he
taught the knowledge of Brahman. Really he taught what is Brahman,
which is the knowledge of Brahman. There is no such thing as a
subject matter called brahma-vidy. There is only Brahman, which one
has to know. If what he taught is Brahman, then why it is said
brahma-vidym provca? Here, Brahman is the object to be gained, and
it is to be gained in terms of knowledge alone. Therefore,
knowledge itself is mentioned here as the object.
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 4
He handed over the knowledge of Brahman, tattvata%, as it is,
without any personal embellishment. Without any reservation he
taught that brahma-vidy for which he was approached.
Yena akcaraC veda: by which teaching the iy would get akcara,
that which is not subject to decay or decline. Puruca means that
which is pra, the limitless, the whole, and there is nothing
outside the puruca. Satya is the cause of everything, which does
not undergo any change. It is always the same, which is why it is
abdhita. Not that once upon a time it was the cause, and afterwards
it became an effect. It was always the same; it is the cause of
everything but does not undergo any change. It is completely free
from any modification. That vidhy alone he taught as it is.
From this we understand that for the guru also there is a kind
of a rule- may the guru teach the person who has properly
approached and who is ready for the knowledge. It is not a real
vidhi for a guru. If he is brahma-nicmha, he does not come under
any vidhi or nicedha, teach or do not teach. According to ones own
prrabda and ones own disposition, a rotriya may teach or may not
teach. If a rotriya teaches, some may gain knowledge. So there is
no reason why a rotriya should not teach.
In the sampradya there is a mention of an unwritten convention
that the person should keep teaching in order to make his or her
knowledge clear. Teaching itself is like a finer sdhana. It is
called brahmbhysa. Teaching is a means to get more clarity about
what one already knows, and is always advocated in the sampradya.
Even those who write great books would say, I am writing this book
simply for my anta%-karaGa- uddhi, for my own clarity. Even
Surevara says, I am writing this to see whether my understanding is
clear or not. Teaching is an extended study. If the teaching is not
there, who will study Brahmastra again? If one studies, then one
will study the stra and v[tti. When one teaches, one has to go line
by line and word by word; one will get further clarity. Therefore,
for ones own clarity one may teach. This also is involved.
| $? *M0%..A#M!G &M5?$@/#M! | iti prathamamuGake
dvityakhaGa%
Thus ends the second section of the first chapter.
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 5
I m! r Rudram
Mantra 5
baleNmkq< dev< t[aidTyivhm!, XyayeNdIrakar<
g[ersmav&tm!. blendumakua deva tarudityavigraham |
dhyyennandvarkra gaevarasamvtam || May one meditate upon the Lord
(OEiva) in the form of Nandvara who has a crescent on his crown,
whose form is effulgent like the rising sun and who is along with
GaG_ec_a.
Result for chanting the fifth mantra: One gains the result of
chanting ones mantra as many lakhs as it has syllables, by chanting
this mantra for five thousand times with the discipline of fasting.
This mantra primarily gives peace of mind.
ma nae? m/haNt?mut!/A ma nae? AR/k< ma n/ %]?Ntmu/t ma n
%i]/Am!, ma nae?=vxI> ip/tr. 5. m no mahntamuta m no arbhaka m
na ukantamuta m na ukiam | m novadh pitaramota mtara priy m
nastanuvo rudra rriva || 5 || m no mahntamuta m no arbhaka m na
ukantamuta m na ukitam | m novadh pitarammota mtara priy m
nastanuvo rudra rriva || 5 ||
O Lord Rudra! Do not kill our elders, our children, our young
persons or the baby in the womb. Further, do not hurt our dear
father, mother and our bodies.
here are two types of prayer: One is, do not do this to me and
the other is, do this to me. M here is in the sense of negation and
so the prayer is, do not do. O Rudra, do not cause any harm to the
elders of the family, those who are saintly or older in age. One
also prays for the one who is younger than oneself but wise in
terms of knowledge, like Sage OEuka who was wise even as a boy. O
Rudra, you are the karma-phala-dt. Do not cause any hiC_s to them,
be kind to them and let them live happily.
Furthermore, please do not harm any child, arbhaka, in our
family. Do not also disturb the young people, ukc_anta, of our
family, who are the cause for further progeny. Again, do not
afflict the child in the womb, ukc_ita. Do not hurt our dear father
and mother as well as our bodies. This is a separate prayer. By
chanting this mantra, you are praying for your mother, father, the
young ones in the family, the child in the womb and so on. Prayer
is not just for oneself alone; one can pray for others too.
Naciketas dedicated one boon for the family. Similarly, one [_k,
hymn, is meant for the welfare of the family revealing the care for
the family.
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 6
Ganesa Caturthi At AVG
Ganesa Caturthi was celebrated at AVG, Anaikatti on August 29,
2014. Early in the morning Ganapathy Homa was performed in the
temple. Later in the morning, 11 dravya abhisekam was done to
Sri
Varasiddhi Vinayaka at Subramanya temple and to Sri Jnana
Ganapathy in Sri Daksinamurthi Temple. This was followed by
Shodasha upachara puja. The celebrations concluded with maha
deeparathana.
Pujya Swami Dayananda Sarasvati during his anugraha bhashanam
told that Ganesa Caturthi is celebrated as a big festival in
Maharastra. They make a new Ganesa in clay and later dissolve it in
the ocean. The devotees sing with fervor Ganapathy papa moriya.
Gananam isah, Jananam isah, Jeevanam isah Ganesa. He is
presented in an amazing form of a human being with the head of an
elephant. He has a big stomach which means that the whole jagat is
inside Him.
He is in charge of all your karmas. He gives obstacles according
to your karma. When
you pray to him he neutralizes some of them.
In Ganesa upanisad all the important statements of the Sastra
are there. Daily
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 7
chanting of this upanisad is a very good prayer.
The beautiful form of Ganesa is highly accepted by the
westerners and liked by
them as well. Spiritual seekers pray to Lord Ganesa for removal
of obstacles in the study of Sastra.
Report by N. Avinashilingam
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 8
A summary of the Vedanta classes held during August- September
2014 is presented below:
KATHOPANISAD CLASS BY PUJYA SWAMI DAYANANDA SARASVATI
INTRODUCTION: Kathopanisad belongs to Krsna Yajur Veda. It
contains 2 adhyayas (chapters) . Each adhyaya contains 3 vallis
(sections). It totally contains 119 mantras.
SANTIH MANTRA: The well known Saha nav vavatu is the santih
mantra. The student prays that may the Lord protect both the
Teacher and the Student and nourish their knowledge. May both of
them put adequate effort so that the knowledge is effective. May
there be no misunderstanding between them. May he be free of
obstacles from himself, surroundings and from the environment.
ADHYAYA 1 : VALLI 1:
STORY: Vajasravsah performed visvajit yajna for gaining svarga.
He gave away all his wealth to the Priests as daksina in this
ritual. In the last stage he gave away his last possession of old
cows. His son Naciketas felt that the gifting of useless cows was
not proper. He asks his father to whom he will be given. In anger
his father told that he will be given to Yama. Naciketas said that
the word given in yajna must be upheld and goes to Yama loka.
Yama had gone out. Naciketas waited for three nights outside his
house. Yama on returning found that a Brahmana had waited outside
his house for three nights without food. To free himself from any
papa due to this omission he gave three boons to Naciketas.
THREE BOONS: By the first boon, Naciketas asked that when we
went back
Long Term Course at AVG During August - September 2014
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 9
home, his father should recognize him and be kind to him. By the
second boon, he asked for knowing the details of a ritual for
gaining svarga. By the third boon, he asked for knowledge of
atma.
TEST BY YAMA: Yama instead of atma jnana offered wealth,
kingdom, family life, people, longevity, celestial women, dance and
music. Naciketa rejected all of them as impermanent. He told that
let the vehicles, dance and music remain with Yama himself.
Naciketas proved that he was a qualified student to receive atma
jnana.
ADHYAYA 1 : VALLI 2:
SREYAS & PREYAS: Yama praised Naciketa for choosing sreyas
(permanent good) instead of preyas (temporary pleasure). The
message for spiritual seekers is that they should examine and
choose sreyas. The Guru, Sishya and atma vidya are all
extraordinary. The indescribable is described.
ATMA TATVAM: Atma is of the nature of consciousness. Atma is
birthless, changeless and deathless. Atma survives the death of the
body. Atma is neither the doer nor the enjoyer. Atma is bigger than
the biggest and subtler than the subtlest. Omkara upasana may be
practiced to purify the mind.
QUALIFICATIONS OF THE SEEKER: The seeker having the four fold
qualification alone can gain this knowledge. The seeker should live
a dharmic life and have an integrated personality.
ADHYAYA 1 : VALLI 3:
RATHA KALPANA: An anology of travel in the chariot is presented.
Life is compared to travel in the chariot, Jivatma is compared to
the Master of the chariot, physical body
is compared to the chariot, intellect is compared to the driver
of the chariot, mind is compared to reins, senses organs are
compared to the horses, sense objects are compared to the road and
sreyas/ preyas is compared to the destination.
The driver holding the reins properly, will have the horses
under his control and take the Master to the proper destination.
Similarly one having a discriminative intellect will have the mind
and sense organs under his control and will reach the destination
of sreyas in this life.
In Bhagavat Gita, this is illustrated as Krishna Arjuna samvada
in a chariot.
JNANA SADHANAM: UTTISHTA! JAGRATA! QUOTED BY SWAMI VIVEKANANDA
AS ARISE! AWAKE! IS WELL KNOWN. One should wake up from the sleep
of self ignorance and make sincere efforts to gain atma jnana.
Under the guidance of a traditional Guru one should do sravana,
manana and nidihyasana. One should understand that Brahman is not
an object of sense organs like sound, touch, colour, taste and
smell.
ADHYAYA 2 : VALLI 1:
ATMA SVARUPAM: The sense organs are made to perceive the
external world. Hence majority of the people go for enjoying
the
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 10
sensory world. Only a discriminative person knowing that atma is
changeless, does not desire changing things. Atma as consciousness
perceives all objects in all the three states. Isvara wielding the
power of maya and Jiva under the spell of maya are one. Isvara as
the samasti principle of the subtle world known as Hiranyagarbha
and Jiva are one. Isvara as the samsti principle of the gross world
known as Virat and Jiva are one. The one who knows this does not
desire to protect himself.
Atma jnana should be known through the mind. Atma (as though of
the size of the thumb) is (as though) located in the heart
(buddhi). Water rained on a mountain runs down the slopes and
disappear. Similarly one who sees the apparent differences as real
will be destroyed. Clear water dropped in clear water remains
clear. Similarly atma remains pure although it resides in different
bodies.
ADHYAYA 2 : VALLI 2:
JNANA SADHANAM: Atma is like a city with eleven gates. When the
wrong notion that I am the body is gone, one becomes free. Atma is
seated in the heart and makes one breath. When prana goes away
nothing is left out. Jiva gets different births according to their
karma and upasana. The well known mantra yathakarma yathasrutham
explains this principle. Atma is wrongly identified as waker,
dreamer or sleeper, while it is the consciousness during all these
states. Fire and Air assume different forms in different objects.
Similarly atma (as though) assumes different forms in different
beings. Sun does not get affected by lighting up impure objects.
Similarly atma remains as ananda, although it sustains dukha. Non
dual atma is the inner controller of all beings.
Remaining formless it transforms into manifold forms.
Atma cannot be illumined by sun, moon, stars, lightning or fire.
Everything shines after the self effulgent atma. The well known
mantra na tatra suryo bhati explains this principle. This mantra is
chanted during arathi.
ADHYAYA 2 : VALLI 3:
ATMA JNANA PHALA: This jagat is like an asvatthah tree. Brahman
is like the root of this tree. Just like the tree can be felled,
samsara can be destroyed by atma jnana.
All sorrow is at vyasti level. When one looks at the samasti
level, there is no difference and no sorrow. The one who knows atma
has no grief. Brahman is manifest as various orders in this jagat.
Brahman cannot be objectified by sense organs.
This upanisad mentions the word dharana and dhyana. These yogic
practices help the seeker to get concentration during the study of
the Sastra.
Avidya, kama and karma are the knots of the heart (mind). Atma
jnana cuts these knots. The one who gains this knowledge gains
freedom from sorrow, binding desires and death. He gains
jivan-mukti and videha-mukti.
The one who does karma and upasana and who fails to get atma
jnana in this janma, will go to Brahma loka. There he will be
taught by Brahmaji and will get atma jnana.
CONCLUSION: Naciketas gained atma jnana from Lord Yama. Anyone
else knowing atma can also gain this.
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 11
VIVEKACUDAMANI CLASS BY SWAMI SADATMANANDA
INTRODUCTION: This work is attributed to Sri Adi Sankara. This
is an introductory text giving the gist of Vedantic teching. The
meaning of vivekacudamani is crest jewel in the form of
discriminative enquiry and discriminative knowledge. Out of the
total 581 verses, only selected 108 verses are proposed to be
taught in the class.
PRAYER: I salute sadguru Govinda, who is an embodiment of
happiness and knowledge that can be gained only through
Upanisads.
PRAISE OF THE HUMAN BIRTH: Only due to Isvaras grace we obtain
the rare advantages of human birth, desire for freedom and
association with a great Teacher. A person not using these
advantages wastes his life.
KNOWLEDGE ONLY MEANS FOR MOKSHA: Moksha can be gained only with
the knowledge of identity of jivatma and paramatma. Proper action
with proper attitude can only purify the mind and cannot give atma
jnana. Knowledge of atma can be obtained only by enquiry of the
Sastra. The seeker should approach a Teacher having compassion and
atma jnana and with his guidance do enquiry of the Sastra.
QUALIFICATIONS: A seeker having the qualifications of
discrimination, dispassion, determination and desire for moksha
only can gain atma jnana. Viveka is discriminative understanding
that Brahman is nityam and jagat is mithya. Vairagya is dispassion
towards enjoyments from the body of a human being upto
Brahmaji.
Sama is seeing the limitation of sense objects and making the
mind available for
spiritual studies. Dama is withdrawing the sense organs from
their respective objects and placing them in their respective
places. Uparati is non leaning on external objects. It is the
spirit of sannyasa. Titiksa is foreberance of pain without
complaint. Sraddha is ascertainment that the Sastra and the words
of the Guru are the means of knowledge. Samadhanam is non wavering
of the mind and ability to focus on Brahman.
Mumuksutvam is the desire to give up bondage or a sense of
inadequacy and insecurity through understanding ones true self.
APPROACHING A GURU: A qualified student, desiring to know atma
tatvam, approaches a learned Guru, who can give freedom from
bondage.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GURU: Guru should know the sampradaya,
the content and method of teaching and should have received the
same from his Guru. He should be free from unethical activities,
reveling in Brahman, calm like a flame without disturbance, having
compassion and helpful to the seekers. The seeker should express
his devotion to the Guru through prostration, humility and
service.
SISHYAS PRAYER: Sishya prays as follows: Oh Guru! I am scorched
by the forest fire of samsara. I am shaken by the winds of papa. I
see no other refuge. I surrender to you. Please protect me. Saints
like you are composed, doing good to others like spring without
expecting anything in return. Having crossed samsara, you make
others cross samara by giving knowledge.
Report by N.Avinashilingam
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 12
Ancient Studies gained glory at the first convocation ceremony
of Sri Swami Dayananda Veda Patasala. 7 Students have passed out
well versed in Vaikhanasa Agama and were awarded the certificates
with the benign blessings of H.H. 46th Pattam Srimadh
Azhagiyasingar of Srimadh Ahobila Mutt at the Sri Vaikhanasa Agama
Pattamalippu Peruvizha held at Rayas Thirumana Mahal, Kumbakonam on
September 12, 2014.
The Ceremony began with Perumal Thirukalyana Mahotsavam.
Teachers, Senior
Ancient Studies Gains Glory
Vaikhanasa Archakas were honoured during the function. The
Special Invitees who addressed the gathering with valuable inputs
include Dr. R. Krishnamurthy Sastrigal, Former Principal, The
Madras Sanskrit College, Mylapore, Shri. U. Ve. Ramakrishna
Dikshitalu, Thirumala Thirupathi Devasthanam, Shri. U. Ve.
Navalpakkam Vasudevachariar, Associate Professor, Sri Sankaracharya
Sanskrit Sarvakalasala, Thiruvananthapuram, Shri. U. Ve.
Devanarvilagam Padmanabhachariar, HOD-Sanskrit, Madras
University,
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 13
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 14
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 15
Srikariyam Sri Ahobila Mutt, Shri. Dr. S. Muthu Bhattar,
Associate Professor, Vivekananda College Chennai, Shri. U. Ve.
Shriraman Bhattachar, and Shri. U. Ve. N.R. Venkatesa
Bhattachar.
During the Convocation address, His Holiness Srimadh
Azhagiyasingar of Srimadh Ahobila Mutt lauded the vedic scholars
for taking up this noble education. He informed that studies of
Veda and Vedanta are the supreme form of education and it has
travelled many centuries to reach them. He advised that every vedic
graduate should take up the cause of promoting
vedic knowledge and each one should train more scholars to
uphold the glory of ancient India and thereby elevate the rich
culture and heritage of India. He praised Smt. Sheela Balaji,
Managing Trustee and Secretary who worked tirelessly for realizing
this noble cause. He said Inspite of many religions of the world
having come and gone away without a trace, Indian culture still
continues to exist and leaders like Smt. Sheela Balaji contribute
to this.
The meeting ended with a vote of thanks by Smt. Sheela Balaji,
Managing Trustee and Secretary of Swami Dayananda Veda Pada
Sala.
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 16
84th Birthday Celebration of Pujya Swamiji
UNIQUE BIRTHDAY: The 84th birthday of Pujya Swami Dayananda
Sarasvati celebrated on August 15, 2014 is unique because his
birthday as per his date of birth and also his birthday as per
birth star Revati occurred on the same day. This day also coincides
with our countrys Independence Day.
HOMA: Ganapathi homa, Mrtyunjaya homa, Ayusya homa and Navgraha
homa were performed for Pujya Swamijis good health and long
life
in the Medha Daksinamurti Temple at AVG, Anaikatti .
LAKSHARCHANA: Laksharcana (Chanting of the Lords name 100000
times) was done by all the Swamis, Swaminis, Students and Guests
with great zeal. The Lord was invoked in pictures of Lord
Daksinamurti and
also in 30 lamps.
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 17
The following biija mantra of Lord Daksinamurti was chanted: om
hrm daksinmrtaye tubhyam vatamlanivsine dhynaikaniratngya namo
rudrya sambhave hrm om. Around 140 participants including Swamis,
Swaminis, Students and Guests chanted the mantra and did archana.
Other visitors present also jointed the chanting of the mantra.
The laksharchana started by Pujya Swamiji chanting the mantra.
Upacharas were done for Lord Daksinamurti. The laksharchana
programme concluded with Maha arati.
Pujya Swamiji graced the puja with his august presence and
blessed the participants.
Report by N. Avinashilingam
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 18
Arsha Vidya Gurukulam Saylorsburg, End-of-Summer Report
Arsha Vidya Gurukulam nestled in the foothills of the Pocono
Mountains of eastern Pennsylvania, near New Jersey and two and a
half hours from Manhattan, is one of the best-kept secrets of the
Western Hemisphere. It is a traditional institution for residential
short or long-term study of Vedanta and Sanskrit, as well as of the
various vedagas such as yoga, jyotia, vedic chanting, classical
music and dance, ayurveda and so on, with a residential guru.
Gurukulam means living as family, kulam, of the guru for a
period of time in order to study the Vedanta stra, teaching, and
also doing gurukula seva, helping with the upkeep and functioning
of the gurukulam.
Veda means knowledge and Vednta refers to the knowledge or vidy
of sat, the changeless and ultimate existence. This vidy has come
down to us unchanged from is or sages who received it in revealed
form directly from the Lord. The Lord is visualized in the form of
the first guru, called ri Dakimrti. Dakimrti is the mrti, form of
the Lord, who is daki, looking South, from the Himalayas to the
plains of India. In this form, the sacred river Gag is seen flowing
from Dakimrtis hair, which symbolizes the flow of knowledge from
teacher to student. Arsha Vidya Gurukulam in Pennsylvania was the
first Arsha Vidya Gurukulam to have a temple dedicated to ri
Dakimrti.
Arsha Vidya Gurukulam in Saylorsburg, state of Pennsylvania,
USA, was
inaugurated for a three-and-a-half-year residential course
taught by Pujya Sri Swami Dayananda Saraswati from 1986 to end of
1989. Subsequently Pujya Swamiji began teaching his
three-and-a-half-year courses at the new Arsha Vidya Gurukulam at
Anaikatti in Coimbature district of Tamil Nadu, India.
SPECIALITIES OF ARSHA VIDYA GURUKULAM - SAYLORSBURG
From 1990 onwards, the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam of Saylorsburg has
had an annual program which best serves the families of Indians
residing in the Western world, especially those established in
North America, by providing not only the Vedanta stra, but also the
Vedic culture, in practice and significance, for future generations
of Sanatana Dharma adherents. These include Hindus, Sikhs, Jains,
Zoroastrians, Buddhists, Confucius followers and people from all
living and revived dharma-based indigenous cultures. The
gurukulam
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 19
continues to include short and long-term resident courses for
adult seekers of the Vedanta knowledge of the Vedas who come from
diverse backgrounds and many nations.
Meanwhile the Arsha Vidya Gurukulam of Coimbatore became the
place best suited for the three-and-a-half-year Vedanta and
Sanskrit courses mainly for those Indian and international students
who might wish to teach Vedanta upon successfully completing the
course.
In order to run these two gurukulams, as well as the annual
Vedanta camps for short- term residential study at Arsha Vidya
Pitham, known as Swami Dayananda Ashram in Rishikesh, Pujya Swamiji
appointed several of his senior disciples to share the
institutional teaching load.
During the summer season Saylorsburg gurukulam has a full
schedule of back-to- back family camps beginning with the
Independence Day Family Vedanta Retreat and ending with the Labor
Day Patrons Family Vedanta Retreat, followed by the Yoga and Sound
camp, where Vedanta is also taught.
In 2014, due to his age and health problems, for the first time
Pujya Swamiji did not cross the ocean to conduct the camps during
summer. The regular cryas, Swami Viditatmananda, Swami
Tattvavidananda and Swami Pratyagbodhananda, who normally teach
some or all of the Vedanta texts at these camps, maintained the
full schedule with Swami Viditatmanandaji and Swami
Tattvavidanandaji taking up the texts which Pujya Swamiji would
have taught.
rimati Savitri Mani had some new helpers for the childrens
programs at the Family
camps this year. After the Pra Vidy Teachers Training camp,
Savitri Aunti was able to go back to India to be with her daughter
and new grandchild.
Pra Vidy teachers performance with Saumya, Ram, Savitri Mani
and
Suddhatma
Pra Vidy teachers receiving diplomas from Swami Viditatmananda
Saraswati
The Pra Vidy Teachers Training camp this year was assisted by
Saumya Chaitanya. Saumya and Bindu taught the childrens Vedic
heritage classes for the two four-day patrons camps and Lakm
conducted the pj program for the children on Janmam, Lord Krishnas
birthday. Lakm also guided the three age groups of
children-to-teens in producing spectacular theatrical performances
at the four-day Labor Day weekend Patrons Family Camp.
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 20
Children performing pjs for Lord Krishnas birthday, Janmam
Swami Pratyagbodhanandaji and Br. Surya Narayan chanting on
Janmam
Children and teachers with Swami Tattvavidananda Saraswati
after
performance
Lance taught yoga for both the adults and children during family
camps. Lance and helpers conducted the piata games celebrating Lord
Krishnas birthday, Janmam.
Surya and Usha taught Vedic chanting. Sandra helped with the
meals and arts and crafts. Pandit Mukesh Desai taught music classes
at most of the camps for the adults. Master Chef Ramachandran
provided the creative and tasty vegetarian cuisine with his
helpers.
Other highlights of the Summer Program like Pujya Swamijis
nakatra homa, Gaea caturthi homa and the Yoga and Sound retreat
with Yogi Ramanand and Pandit Mukesh Desai are reported
separately.
During the fall season this year Swami Tattvavidananda is
filling in for the classes Pujya Swamiji would have taught in the
one-week and two-week Vedanta camps as well as teaching the 7-week
Vedanta course he normally conducts.
The 28th Gurukulam Anniversary program was reported in the
August Arsha Vidya Newsletter and can be watched in full at:
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=9L3A1o04xqs&feature=youtu.be
Pujya Swami Dayanandajis surprise attendence by Skype comes
right in the middle of the video followed by his address. It is not
to be missed.
Report by Swamini Vilasananda Saraswati
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 21
SWAMI DAYANANDA SARASWATI S. C.P. SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL
SOCIETY,
Chandareswar Nagar, Rishikesh - 249201
Date -25th August 2014
We are glad to inform that Swami Dayananda Saraswati SCP School
has successfully completed its 10th year and is run by Sri
Gangadhareswar trust. Most of the children studying are
economically wanting.
We are on the verge of expanding the school and invite your
generous contribution for the following:-
Yearly educational contribution:- INR-10000/= per student
Monthly special coaching fee:- INR 5000/= per student
Smart Classes Aid INR-60000/- (require five smart classes).
Computers in kind (20 nos required).
Purchase of a bus 10,00,000/=
School progress shall be sent to all the donors on yearly
basis.
The school secured 85% pass in X Standard board exams during the
year 2013-2014.
(All the Donation can be made in the name of SWAMI DAYANANDA
SARASWATI SUKHANAND CAREER PUBLIC SCHOOL SOCIETY)
SWAMI DAYANANDA SARASWATI CHAIRMAN
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 22
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 23
Pujya Swami Dayananda Sarasvati inaugurated the three year
course at AVG, Anaikatti on August 15, 2014 with around 60
students. Sri Vasudevacharya of Australia gave a benedictory
address.
INAUGURAL ADDRESS: Pujya Swamiji spoke about how we begin any
undertaking with a prayer. Today we had a very good beginning with
laksharchana performed to Lord Daksinamurti. He said that he was
sure that this course would go smoothly
Inauguration of 3 Years Course at AVG
with no obstacles for the Teachers and the Students.
The whole pursuit is an adventure, not just a venture. With the
three years course, the students are embarking on an adventure.
Every day would bring new insights. After three years there would
be a sense of fulfillment. In the beginning, one would say that one
is hearing about Ishvara. At the end of the course one should be
able to say that one is hearing about oneself. As the students had
already undergone a three months course, they know what to expect
of the coming three years.
The aim of learning the shastra is for oneself to know. Sharing
the knowledge with others is also part of the learning. One is said
to know a subject matter only when one can give that to others. By
the end of the course, the students will be equipped with all the
tools to share the knowledge.
This Gurukulam is the only place available in the whole of India
where classical Sanskrit and Vedanta are taught in English.
Students should have a commitment to spend some time for Sanskrit
daily. Students should take leave of everything else for three
years and study Sanskrit and Vedanta.
Students should keep their mind open. Attentive students in the
class would grasp
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 24
to teach Vedanta upon successfully completing the course.
In order to run these two gurukulams, as well as the annual
Vedanta camps for short- term residential study at Arsha Vidya
Pitham, known as Swami Dayananda Ashram in Rishikesh, Pujya Swamiji
appointed several of his senior disciples to share the
institutional teaching load.
During the summer season Saylorsburg gurukulam has a full
schedule of back-to- back family camps beginning with the
Independence Day Family Vedanta Retreat and ending with the Labor
Day Patrons Family Vedanta Retreat, followed by the Yoga and Sound
camp, where Vedanta is also taught.
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 26
SDJ AYURVEDALAYA was inaugurated at Anaikatti on June 5, 2014 as
an ayurveda treatment centre. Pujya Swami Dayananda Sarasvati
inaugurated the inpatient wards at the hospital on August 29, 2014.
It has become a full fledged Ayurveda hospital on Vinayaka caturthi
day. The hospital is located in a beautiful and peaceful setting in
the midst of a forest reserve.
Ganapathy homa, dhanvantri homa and navagraha homa were
peformed. Pujya Swamiji cutting the ribbon inaugurated the wards.
The hospital has an aesthetic modern panchakarma treatment room. It
has self contained rooms with modern facilities for the patients.
Acharyas, Students and well wishers participated in the function.
On that day treatment started with giving abyanga massage to a well
wisher.
Dr. R. Parthasarathy is the Chief Medical Officer. Dr. P.
Saranya wife of Dr. Parthasarathy is the Senior Medical Officer.
Sri S. Narayanan is the Manager. They explained the facilities at
the hospital to all the visitors.
Already three patients from outside India have booked rooms for
treatment. Beautiful and separate cottages with AC and other
facilities will start functioning in a weeks time.
Those who wish to take treatment in the hospital may contact
through e mail: [email protected] or through Phone No +91 422
2657222.
Report by N. Avinashilingam
Inauguration of Wards at Ayurveda Hospital at Anaikatti
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 27
Om
Three-month Residential Course in Vedanta and Sanskrit- 2014 By
Arsha Vidya Vikas Kendra, Bhubaneswar
Arsha Vidya Vikas Kendra, Bhubaneswar, announces a Short
Three-month Residential Course on Vedanta, and Sanskrit commencing
from 6th October, 2014. The period is roughly broken into three
One-month Courses to accommodate those short of time.(open-ended),
although one can attend continuously.
6th October - 5th November, 2014 - Mundakopanishad with
Sankarabhashyam
10th November - 6th December, 2014 - Prasnopanishad with
Sankarabhashyam 8th December - 31st December, 2014 - Kenopanishad
with Sankarabhashyam
The course will be conducted, by Swamini Atmaprajnananda
Saraswati, student- disciple of Pujya Sri Swami Dayananda
Saraswati.
Brahmacaris/Brahmacarinis familiar with the traditional Gurukula
teaching parampara may apply to:
Swamini Atmaprajnananda Saraswati Founder Acarya
Arsha Vidya VikasKendra A 1/1 Palaspalli, Bhubaneswar 751 020,
ODISHA
[email protected]
providing requisite details. One may also see the following, for
various activities of the centre.
http://www.speakingtree.in/public/atmaprajnanandasaraswati
www.atmaprajnananda.blogspot.com
You Tube - atmaprajnananda saraswati www.arshavidya.net
The Kendra will provide facilities that are possible.
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 28
Pujya Sri Swami Omkarananda is pleased to announce a 6-month
Vedanta course,
leading to a long term course, starting December 1, 2014
Location: Swami Chidbhavananda Ashramam, Vedapuri, Theni.
Course Teachers: Brahmachari Sivatma Chaitanya
(disciple of Pujya Sri Swami Dayananda Saraswati) along with Sri
Ramanujam and Swami Adhyatmananda.
Visit www.vedaneri.org for details.
Eligibility: Male college graduates (10+2+3) between 22 and 35
years. Exceptions only for deserving candidates.
Conversant in English. Medium of instruction English
Duration: 6 months leading to a longer term Cost: Free of cost.
Donations are welcome.
Aim of the course: Bring about inner transformation through a
study of Vedanta and live a life
based on the principles of Vedic heritage.
Course content: Vedanta A study of some basic texts of Advaita,
Bhagavad Gita and
Upanishad. Also an overview of Mahabharata with focus on value
structure.
Sanskrit The goal would be to get a good grasp of the language.
Spoken Sanskrit will also be taught. Knowing Sanskrit is not a
pre-requisite.
Workshops/interactive sessions: Interactive sessions
to bring out tangibly the role of Vedanta in ones inner
transformation, Indian Heritage: Detailed overview about the
ancient Indian education system,
art, Governance, Temples etc.
Application form: Visit www.vedaneri.org or
Contact our office at Swami Chidbhavananda Ashramam,
Chatrapatti Road, Vedapuri, Theni 625 531. Tamilnadu. Phone:
91-4546-253908
Course-E-mail:
Application deadline: October 1, 2014
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 29
ARSHA VIDYA PITHAM Swami Dayananda Ashram
is pleased to announce
Two Camps by PUJYA SRI SWAMI DAYANANDA SARASWATI
at Swami Dayananda Ashram, Rishikesh as per details given
below:
CAMP FROM TO TOPIC
CAMP NO. 1 (15 DAYS) 21-02-2015 07-03-2015
raddhbhaktidhynayogdavaihi
CAMP NO.2 (15 DAYS) 10-03-2015 24-03-2015 cryavnpuruo veda
on or before 30 November 2014. Kindly find the online
application form at our website
www.dayananda.org For further enquiries please send an email
to
[email protected] or call us at
+91-135-2430769/2431769
between 08:00 to 12:00 & 15:00 -19:00 Hrs only.
Instructions to fill the online form:
Go to www.dayananda.org Click on the link register online link
under the Vedanta camps 2015 heading at our home page. Fill all
Mandatory fields Click on Submit button and say continue which will
appear on the next page
to select the choice of your course. (Note that the registration
mail could be delivered at your spam folder)
Acharya Swami Santatmananda
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 30
A group of college students pursing second year B.Sc.
(Electronics) at PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore
visited the Anaikatti Gurukulam on August 28, 2014.
Pujya Swami Dayananda Sarasvati addressed them. He told that the
Gurukulam is for learning about the reality of living. In college,
one studies a subject and later become a professional like an
Engineer. But that is not enough to call one a successful
person.
In life one has to play many roles like Student, Father, Mother,
Brother, Sister, Employer, Employee, etc. If one understands that
these are only
Pujya Swamiji Addresses College Students
different roles one play and he is separate from the roles, then
there is no problem in life. All the problems and limitations
belong to the roles only. The person is free from the problems and
limitations of the role. They do not affect the person. In the
Gurukulam, we teach about the person. That is what Bhagavat
Gita
talks about.
The ultimate goal of a Hindu is to know about this person. It is
not going to heaven after death like other religions.
You come in contact with that person, whenever you are happy.
When you look at the blue sky and mountains, you are a non
demanding person. You do not want them to be different. Everything
just falls in place. You enjoy and you are at home with the
environment. There is certain happiness. That happiness is your
nature.
In life, you search for happiness. But you are the happiness you
seek. This
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 31
is the topic of Bhagavat Gita and Upanisads which we teach in
the Gurukulam. They are in Sanskrit. Hence we also teach Sanskrit.
We have Students here for a three year course, from different
countries and also from different states of our country who stay
here, study and meditate.
Pujya Swamiji answered the questions raised by the Students. One
student
asked how to be humane in this competitive world. Pujya Swamiji
replied that God did not create this world for human consumption.
We have to be humane to the environment. We should pour a glass of
water for at least one plant daily. We should look for
opportunities to help any living being.
Report by N. Avinashilingam
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 32
The much awaited trip to Arsha Vidya Gurukulam, Anaikatti, to
have a darshan of Pujya Swamiji Dayananda Saraswati, a mahapurusha,
a sage, happened on 15th and 16th September, 2014. The well spread
out ashram, with kutias named after rivers, the serene air and the
majestic temple were all warm and welcoming.
The advent of our guru Vasanthiji in Madurai is a boon indeed.
She is guiding us in Vedanta by taking regular classes in Sanskrit,
Tattvabodha and Bhagavad Gita at the Arsha Parampara centre in
Madurai. Vasanthiji uses simple and easy to understand words to
teach. It is our purvapunyam that we got such a great teacher. We
all enjoy and benefit from the classes.
Among the very many students in Madurai, we were the fortunate
group of twenty, who accompanied our guruji to Anaikatti and it was
athithi devo bhava from the start. We felt at home in the ashram.
After refreshing in the kutias allotted for us, we
Madurai students in Anaikatti
went for lunch. The food in the ashram is healthy, tasty and
wholesome. After lunch, our guruji took us to the gallery, where
she gave an overview of Pujya Swamijis life history. It is amazing
how one person Pujya Swamiji has contributed so much to our society
creating so many teachers, establishing gurukulams, reaching out to
so many people through AIM for Seva, convening Acharya Sabha,
etc.
We were brought to focus by our Vasanthiji who took a class on
karma yoga in the temple mandapam. Her explanation of
Isvararpanabuddhi and prasadha buddhi set us thinking on the right
lines. We attended the Acharya Swami Saddatmanandajis class on
Viveka Chudamani after which our group met him at his kutia. Swami
Sadatmanadaji briefed us on sadhana chathustayam.
We then went to the temple to have darshan of Sri Medha
Dakshinamurthy and sought his blessings for our pursuit. After
attending the arathi, we had dinner and then waited outside Pujya
Swamijis kutia for his darshan.
The much awaited moment finally came. Pujya Swamiji had just
then returned from Udumalpet and as his name goes, he being the
personification of daya, called us despite his weariness. The
darshan of Pujya Swamiji was sublime and the air was thick with
emotion. Ever since Vasanthiji had started taking classes, we had
been wanting to meet him but his illness kept us away. Like a
mother, Pujya Swamiji bestowed
Arsha Vidya Newsletter - September 2014 33
each one of us with a loving glance and had an ear for all of
us. Madurai is famous for malli (jasmine) and Swamiji happily
accepted the special garland we had brought for him along with
prasadam from Meenakshi Amman temple while we all chanted the
Guruvarashatkam.
Swamiji was full of zest and showed a lot of interest in meeting
us. All of us told Swamiji that we were benefitting a lot from
Vasanthijis classes and thanked Swamiji for sending her to Madurai.
Swamiji said that we were lucky to have her since she had studied
well and taken in whatever he had taught. He then blessed us all
with steadfastness in our pursuit. The day ended on this happy
note, and many of us were emotional, having received his blessings
in abundance. His compassion made us feel complete.
The vedic chants of Rudram drew us to the temple at 5.30 the
next morning after which we walked to the Murugan temple for
darsan. Swami Shankaranandaji then spoke to us about purusharthas.
With his sharp and quick questions, he made the session
interesting. Swamiji said that happiness is the state that one
seeks, and moksha is freedom from seeking. Want not to want and
happiness is a resoluton from a sense of want are the quotes we
took down from him.
We rushed to find our place in the lecture hall to listen to
Pujya Swamijis talk on Atmanasthu kamaya sarvam priyam bhavati
Swamiji told us about Sage Yajnavalkya, who was a master of
spiritual wisdom. In his conversation with his wife Maitreyi, he
explains that for the sake of the self, everything is dear. Atma is
the most loved and so it is anandasvarupa. To be with oneself is
happiness.
After class, Pujya Swamiji called us to his kutia and spoke to
us about the aim of life. He said that we were always in search of
something or the other without knowing what we wanted. He then
explained the preciousness of human birth with the song
nandavanatthil oraandi. Taking his blessings once again we took
leave of him.
Swamiji by giving us our Vasanthiji has set us on the right
path. Thank you Swamiji. Filled to the brim with happiness, we left
for Madurai with renewed and refreshed energy.
From Students of Arsha Parampara, Madurai
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